Slats for a chain link fence

ABSTRACT

Extruded plastic slats are adapted for tight-fitting insertion into the channels formed by the flattened helical strands of a chain link fence. Each slat has a planar portion of width equal to the channel wide dimension, and one or more legs extending perpendicular to the planar portion across the narrow dimension of the channel. Preferably, the interior of each slat is of cellular configuration, the slat having a specific gravity of between 0.4 and 1.0. Alternatively, slats of rectangular crosssection may be employed.

States atet n 1 Tochner et a1.

[54] SLATS FOR A CHAIN LINK FENCE [75] 1nventors:1rving A. Tochner Yorba Linda, Calif.; Walter T. Savinsky, La

Mirada, Calif.

[73 As signee miller 1 1as tic Materials, Inc.,

Compton, Calif.

[22] I F ileda July 211, 1971 V l [21] App1.No.: 166,671

[52] US. Cl. ..256/34, 256/l2.5 [51] Int. Cl. ..E04h 17/14 [58] Field of Search ..256/34, 32, 19, 24, 12.5, 1

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,285,577 11/1966 Pinson ..256/34 2,753,156 7/1956 Riegei' ..256/34 X 3,177,534 4/1965 Millhouse et al. .....49/490 X 2,802,645 8/1957 Rice ..256/34 3,069,142 12/1962 Kessler ..256/34 [451 Jan.23, 1973 3,227,423 1/1966 DeMatteo ..256/34 X 3,357,137 12/1967 Lombardi et a1. ..49/485 X 3,426,536 2/1969 Danz ..256/34 X 3,413,389 11/1968 Footner... ..49/485 X 3,554,494 1/1971 Bee 256/19 Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Att0meyFlam & Flam [57] ABSTRACT 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures SLATS FOR A CHAIN LINK FENCE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to slats for a chain link fence.

2. Description of the Prior Art Chain link fences are widely used to provide a secure enclosure of low cost and good durability. Such fences are formed of flattened helical wire strands interlocked to form a wide mesh wire fabric supported at spaced intervals by upright tubular members. Such chain link fences are useful for marking property lines, restraining animals, providing backyard security for children, and the like.

For some purposes, the ability to see through the fence is beneficial. On the other hand, for certain applications, the unobstructed visibility through a chain link fence is distinctly disadvantageous. Thus, when privacy is desired, or where a wind break is needed, the chain link fence by itself is unsatisfactory. Similarly, in highway construction where a chain link fence is used on the divider island between traffic in opposite directions, it is important to block visibility through the fence.

The chain link fence may be provided with slats to cover the openings and provide obstructed visibility. Optimally, such slats should be attractive, low in cost, durable, and should not rattle or become loose under vibration conditions such as those encountered in highway divider applications.

In the past, several types of chain link fence slats have been suggested. Since the fabrication of the fence results in-diagonal troughs of open cross-section, most prior art slats comprise elongate strips of metal which seat within these troughs, often clipped to the chain itself by ears or hooking tabs provided at the ends of the slats. Such a construction is shown in the two US. Pats. to Taylor, No. 3,355,150 and No. 3,356,343.

Transversely arched sheet metal slats also are shown in the US. Pat. No. 3,069,142 to Kessler. The slats are disposed in the diagonal fence troughs and maintained in place by integral clips formed in the slat upper ends. Occasional transverse panels may be used to limit rattling of the diagonal slats. A related type of diagonal slat construction is shown in the US. Pat. No. 2,954,964 to OI-Iaffey. There, each slat has a crenelated edge structure, characterized by indentations which receive the interlocking fence strands.

All of these prior art chain link fence slats exhibit common shortcomings. Being fabricated of metal, they are expensive. Further, since they fit within the open diagonal troughs of the fence, clips, hooks or tabs are required to attach the slats, and transverse members are needed to reduce rattling. Attempts have been made to use wooden slats disposed horizontally through a chain link fence, but wooden slats are expensive, and tend to slip free of the fence under vibration conditions. The present invention overcomes these and other shortcomings of the prior art by providing low cost, attractive, extruded plastic slats configured for non-slip, rattle-free application in a chain link fence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, lightweight, durable slats for a chain link fence are formed of extruded plastic having a cellular interior and low specific gravity. The slats are dimensioned for tight fit within the vertical or horizontal channels defined by the flattened helical wire strands of a chain link fence.

Each slat has a planar portion equal in width to the wide dimension of the fence channel. One or more legs extend generally perpendicular to the planar portion across the narrow channel dimension; the legs eliminate rattling and prevent the slat from slipping loose of the fence. Typically the slats may have a 1r U, H, I or T-shaped cross-section. Alternatively, the slats may be crescent shaped or may be rectangular with a hollow central core.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide low density, extruded plastic slats of unique configuration for non-slip, rattle-free use with a conventional chain link fence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A detailed description of the invention will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings, unless described as diagrammatic or unless otherwise indicated, are to scale.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of a portion of a chain link fence incorporating slats in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the fence of FIG. 1, as viewed generally along the line 2-2 thereof, and with the slats shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, diagrammatic view of a portion of the slat shown in FIG. 2, illustrating the cellular interior thereof.

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are end views of other slat configurations each incorporating legs extending from a planar portion of the slat.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 are end views of alternative slat configurations each having a generally rectangular cross-section.

FIG. 11 is a transverse, diagrammatic view of another slat having a rectangular cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention best is defined by the appended claims.

Structural and operational characteristics attributed to forms of the invention first described also shall be attributed to forms later described, unless such characteristics obviously are inapplicable or unless specific exception is made.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a conventional chain link fence It) provided with elongate slats 11 in accordance with the present invention. The fence 10 may be envisioned as a series of interlocking wire strands 12, each having a zigzag appearance when viewed in elevation as in FIG. 1. Each strand 12 is of flattened helical form, defining a vertical channel 13 of generally rectangular cross-section when viewed from the top, as in FIG. 2. The zigzag bends 14a of each strand l2 interlock with or loop around the corresponding bends 14b of the adjacent strand 12' to form the fabric of the fence 10. The adjacent strands 12, 12' are twisted together at the top 15 and bottom to complete the fence construction.

Each slat l I itself comprises a planar portion 17 having a width substantially equal to the wide dimension of the fence channel 13. Extending perpendicularly from the planar portion 17 are a pair of legs 18, providing a generally rr -shaped cross-section for the slat 11. The combined length of a leg 18 and thickness of the planar portion 17 is substantially equal to the narrow dimension of the fence channel 13. This results in a snug fit of the slat 11 within the channel 13, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

The slat ll readily may be fabricated using conventional plastic extrusion techniques. To make the slats lightweight and low in cost, each slat 11 preferrably has a cellular interior shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. Such cellular or foam structures may be achieved by blowing the polymer plastic during the extrusion process. The surface adjacent region 20 of the slat 11 preferably is more dense and hence tougher than the interior region 19. The outer slat surface 21 may be smooth and relatively hard. Preferably, the slat 11 has an overall specific gravity of between 0.4 to 1.0.

Each slat 1 1 may be made of a polymer material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethene, styrene or the like. To this material may be added a blowing agent (for example, p-toluene-sulfonyl-semicarbazide), nitrogen, oxygen or other chemical to expand the plastic as it is heated during the extrusion process. Alternatively, other conventional methods for making gas cells in plastic without the use of a blowing agent may be employed. Optionally, a plasticizer may be used.

To fabricate the slat 11, the polymer and blowing agent, if used, are heated as the plastic is extruded through a-die having the desired cross-sectional shape. The heat causes the blowing agent or like-functioning material to expand and produce the cellular interior structure 19 shown in FIG. 3. Heating during extrusion also causes the slat surface regions 20 to become more dense than the interior portion 19. The slat 11 thus can be produced simply and at low cost in a single extrusion operation.

Other cross-sectional shapes may be employed for the slat l 1. Thus FIG. 4 shows a generally U-shaped slat 11a in which the legs 18a are situated at the ends of a planar section 170. Alternatively, the slat 11 may be of crescent shape, or may have legs which extend at an angle other than perpendicular to the planar portion 17. For example, in FIG. 7 the slat 11b includes legs 18b which extend at obtuse angles from the slightly thickened ends of the planar portion 17b.

FIG. 5 shows a slat having a T-shaped cross-section with a single leg 18c extending from the planar portion 170. In FIG. 6, an l-I-shaped slat is shown, having a pair of legs 18d extending in both directions from the respective ends of a planar portion 17d.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10 show slats of generally rectangular configuration. Thus in FIG. 8, the slat 22 includes first and second spaced parallel planar portions 23, 24 separated by end legs 25, 26. The central core 27 of the slat 22 is hollow. The length of the planar portions 23, 24 corresponds to the wide dimension of the fence channel 13 (FIG. 2) and the overall thickness of the slat 22 corresponds to the narrow dimension of the channel 13. Thus a snug fit is achieved, so as to prevent rattling or slippage of the slat 22 when employed with the fence 10. Each of the planar portions 23, 24 and legs 25, 26 preferably has a cellular interior structure like that shown in FIG. 3.

The slat 22a shown in FIG. 10 is like that of FIG. 8, but includes a central leg 27' for improved rigidity. In FIG. 9, the slat 28 has a generally rectangular outer surface, with a plurality of hollow tubular cores extending through the interior slat.

In FIG. 11 there is shown another rectangular slat 31 the length and thickness of which are substantially equal to the like dimensions of the channel 13. The slat 31 has a cellular interior 32 produced in the same manner as the slat 11 described above. A relatively more dense region 33 is situated between the interior region 32 and the smooth, relatively hard exterior surface 34. Preferably, the slat 31 has an overall specific gravity of between 0.4 and 1.0.

In an alternative embodiment, not illustrated, the inventive extruded plastic slat may have a zigzag or W- shaped cross-section. As in all the other embodiments of the invention, the slat interior is cellular, and the overall specific gravity preferably is in the range of 0.4 to 1.0.

Each of the slats described herein can be installed in an existing chain link fence merely by pressing the slat downward into the channel 13. No tabs, hooks or retaining hardware of any type is required, the give of the extruded, cellular plastic providing the necessary snug fit to retain the slat in place. Further, a colored pigment or dye can be added to the plastic during extrusion, or subsequently applied by painting, to enhance the decorative appearance of the slats.

Intending to claim all novel, useful and unobvious features shown or described;

We claim:

l. A slat for use with a chain-link fence of the type having a plurality of interlocking flattened helical wire strands each defining a vertical channel of generally rectangular cross-section, said slat being dimensioned for tight-fitting retention within one of said channels, said slat comprising a planar portion of width substantially equal to the wide dimension of said channel and at least one leg extending generally perpendicular to said planar portion, the combined length of said leg and the thickness of said planar portion being substantially equal to the narrow dimension of said channel.

2. A slat according to claim 1 wherein the said slat is plastic and has a specific gravity of between 0.4 and 1.0.

3. A slat according to claim 2 wherein the interior of said plastic slat is cellular, and wherein the surface region is relatively denser than the slat interior.

4. A slat according to claim 3 wherein said slat has an l-shaped cross-section.

5. A slat according to claim 3 and having a spaced, parallel pair of planar portions separated by said legs.

6. A slat according to claim 3 and formed by extru- SlOl'l.

7. A slat according to claim 6 wherein said cellular interior is achieved by blowing said plastic during extrusion.

8. An extruded plastic slat according to claim I having an overall specific gravity between 0.4 and having elongated legs extending at an angle from said planar portion to form a crescent shaped cross-section.

9. An extruded plastic slat according to claim I having an overall specific gravity between 0.4 and 1.0 and adapted for use with a chain link fence, said slat having a substantially rectangular cross-section.

10. in combination;

a chain-link fence of the type having a plurality of interlocking flattened helical wire strands each defining a vertical channel of generally rectangular cross-section, segments of each wire strand being situated in horizontally offset vertical planes, and

a plurality of extruded plastic slats each retained in a UNITED STATES PATENT orwcr @ER'MHCATE @F QGRREQ'EWN Patau:No.3,7l2,59O Datai IY 23, 7

Inventor(s) IRVING A. TOCHNER and WALTER T. SAVINSKY I It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 5, line 2, after "0.4" insert:

r-and 1.0--

Signed and sealed this 29th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWhRD M.FLETCHER;JR.' ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer' Commissioner of Patents FORM F'O-IOSO (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60376-F'69 Q U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 2 I969 0-366'334 

1. A slat for use with a chain-link fence of the type having a plurality of interlocking flattened helical wire strands each defining a vertical channel of generally rectangular crosssection, said slat being dimensioned for tight-fitting retention within one of said channels, said slat comprising a planar portion of width substantially equal to the wide dimension of said channel and at least one leg extending generally perpendicular to said planar portion, the combined length of said leg and the thickness of said planar portion being substantially equal to the narrow dimension of said channel.
 2. A slat according to claim 1 wherein the said slat is plastic and has a specific gravity of between 0.4 and 1.0.
 3. A slat according to claim 2 wherein the interior of said plastic slat is cellular, and wherein the surface region is relatively denser than the slat interior.
 4. A slat according to claim 3 wherein said slat has an I-shaped cross-section.
 5. A slat according to claim 3 and having a spaced, parallel pair of planar portions separated by said legs.
 6. A slat according to claim 3 and formed by extrusion.
 7. A slat according to claim 6 wherein said cellular interior is achieved by blowing said plastic during extrusion.
 8. An extruded plastic slat according to claim 1 having an overall specific gravity between 0.4 and having elongated legs extending at an angle from said planar portion to form a crescent shaped cross-section.
 9. An extruded plastic slat according to claim 1 having an overall specific gravity between 0.4 and 1.0 and adapted for use with a chain link fence, said slat having a substantially rectangular cross-section.
 10. In combination; a chain-link fence of the type having a plurality of interlocking flattened helical wire strands each defining a vertical channel of generally rectangular cross-section, segments of each wire strand being situated in horizontally offset vertical planes, and a plurality of extruded plastic slats each retained in a respective one of said channels without additional hardware, each slat having a cellular interior and a surface region relatively denser than the slat interior, each slat being dimensioned for tight-fitting insertion and retention within one of said channels, each slat comprising a planar portion of width substantially equal to the wide dimension of said channel and at least one leg extending generally perpendicular to said planar portion, the combined length of said leg and the thickness of said planar portion being substantially equal to the narrow dimension of said channel. 